College essay feedback that keeps your voice
Your personal statement has been read by your parents, your friend and your teacher, and they all say "it's good". This prompt has your todo.is agent read it like an admissions officer with a stack of essays: what it reveals about you, where it drags, what to cut, and whether the opening earns a second paragraph.
The prompt
- Give me honest college essay feedback on this draft: [ESSAY]. It answers the prompt: [ESSAY PROMPT], word limit [WORD LIMIT]. I'm applying to [SCHOOLS OR TYPE OF PROGRAM]. Read it like an admissions reader with 5 minutes per essay and tell me: 1) what this essay says about me in one sentence, 2) whether the opening makes you want to keep reading, 3) where it tells instead of shows, 4) which parts sound generic or like an adult wrote them, 5) what to cut to fit the limit. Point to exact sentences. Do not rewrite it in your words; ask me 3 questions that would help me add a specific detail. Keep the current word count at the top.
What to change
- [ESSAY]: Paste the draft or attach a Word file or Google Doc export.
- [ESSAY PROMPT]: e.g. Common App prompt 2, a school's supplement, or "Why this college?".
- [WORD LIMIT]: e.g. "650 words" for the Common App personal essay, "250 words" for a supplement.
- [SCHOOLS OR TYPE OF PROGRAM]: e.g. "liberal arts colleges", "engineering programs", "UK universities via UCAS".
Example result
- Word count
- 702 / 650: cut at least 52 words
- What this essay says about you, in one sentence
- "I learned responsibility working at my family's bakery." It is true, but many applicants could write it. The details you include hint at something more specific: you notice what customers need before they ask.
- The opening
- "Ever since I was young, I have always loved helping people." This is the line most readers skim. Your third paragraph starts with something much stronger: "At 5:40 a.m., the proofing oven beeps twice, which means Mrs. Alvarez's rye is ready and she will be here in four minutes." Consider starting there.
- Telling instead of showing
- • Paragraph 2: "This experience taught me a lot about hard work." Show one specific morning instead.
- • Paragraph 5: "I became a better communicator." What did you actually say differently, and to whom?
- Sounds generic or not like you
- • "In today's fast-paced world" and "a tapestry of experiences": cut both.
- • "Furthermore, it is evident that..." reads like an essay for class, not like a 17-year-old talking about something they care about.
- What to cut to fit (about 80 words)
- • The first paragraph's general statements about helping people
- • The list of four clubs in paragraph 6: that belongs in your activities list
- 3 questions to help you add detail
- 1. What is one thing you noticed about a regular customer that nobody told you?
- 2. When did something go wrong at the bakery, and what did you do in that moment?
- 3. How does the way you work at the bakery show up somewhere else, like school or with your siblings?
- What's working
- • Sensory details in the bakery scene
- • The ending connects to what you want to study without listing achievements
How to do it with todo.is
- Paste your essay and the exact prompt, word limit and where you are applying.
- Send it to your todo.is agent from your phone or the web app.
- Read the feedback and answer the 3 questions in your own words; those answers often become your best sentences.
- Send each new draft with "what changed and is it better?" to compare versions.
Tips for a better result
- Start with a moment, not a statement. Admissions readers remember scenes, not claims about your character.
- Read it aloud. If a sentence sounds like nobody your age would say it, rewrite it in your words.
- Don't repeat your activities list. Use the essay for what the rest of the application can't show.
- Colleges expect your own writing. Use feedback and questions, not a ghostwritten essay, and check each school's policy on AI.
college essay feedback: FAQ
- How long is the Common App essay? The Common App personal essay has a 650-word limit, with a minimum of 250. Most strong essays use most of the space.
- Can colleges tell if AI wrote my essay? They may notice when an essay doesn't match the rest of your application or sounds too polished and generic. Your own voice and specific details are what make an essay work.
- What do admissions officers look for in a college essay? A clear sense of who you are, how you think, and what you would bring to campus, shown through specific stories rather than general claims.
- Can it help with supplemental essays too? Yes. For "Why this college?" essays your agent can also check the school's website to see if your reasons are specific to that college.
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